Re: cradle cap? Dairy Free Butter

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

Smart Balance Light buttery spread is dairy free and tastes just like

any other tub of margarine. Fleishmann's Unsalted Margarine is

available in stick and works great for baking & cooking. you should

be able to find of these in the butter section of most grocery stores.

Silk makes a pretty good soy yogurt. Tofutti brand makes

several " ice creams " that are all dairy free. they are even good

enough that I can eat them.

If you want to try eliminating dairy, you should visit the Food

Allergy Network's website and check out the ingredients that are

considered dairy. There are so many more than people ever suspect.

Sam

> > >

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle cap or

> > sebbhoric

> > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering

because I've

> > > been reading about biotin deficiency...of which persistent

cradle

> > cap from

> > > infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old!) is

one of the

> > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some

references to

> > using

> > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with yeast.

> > Can't help

> > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...

> > >

> > > Bonnie

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

All of those are great options - I've tried them as I've had no problem with soy, unlike my son and stepson.

Just a reminder, though, that you can develop a "sensitivity" or "allergy" to anything at any time even though you've been previously exposed to it. Especially since there is already a dairy allergy present, in the case of the soy ice creams, milks and yogurts you need to be vigilant about watching for any allergy symptoms (including behavior changes, such as anxiety or hyperactivity - both biggies).

Good luck...again they are great options, but like everything else moderation is key.

Subject: Re: cradle cap? Dairy Free ButterTo: miralax Date: Friday, August 1, 2008, 10:14 AM

Bonnie,Smart Balance Light buttery spread is dairy free and tastes just like any other tub of margarine. Fleishmann's Unsalted Margarine is available in stick and works great for baking & cooking. you should be able to find of these in the butter section of most grocery stores.Silk makes a pretty good soy yogurt. Tofutti brand makes several "ice creams" that are all dairy free. they are even good enough that I can eat them. If you want to try eliminating dairy, you should visit the Food Allergy Network's website and check out the ingredients that are considered dairy. There are so many more than people ever suspect.Sam> > >> > > Hi everyone,> > >> > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle cap or> > sebbhoric> > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering because I've> > > been reading about biotin deficiency.. .of which persistent cradle> > cap from> >

> infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old! ) is one of the> > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some references to> > using> > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with yeast.> > Can't help> > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...> > >> > > Bonnie> > >> >> > > >>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Sam. These are great options and, actually, we have been dairy free before...but, I still think real butter has some nutritional benefits that margarine doesn't have...so I'll be sorry to give that up if we do another bout of CF. Yogurt I probably just won't replace at all...since we take lots of probiotics anyway...I'm just sorry to lose it as a snack option for my 10-year-old who has reached that age where she is always hungry...

Bonnie

Bonnie,

Smart Balance Light buttery spread is dairy free and tastes just like

any other tub of margarine. Fleishmann's Unsalted Margarine is

available in stick and works great for baking & cooking. you should

be able to find of these in the butter section of most grocery stores.

Silk makes a pretty good soy yogurt. Tofutti brand makes

several " ice creams " that are all dairy free. they are even good

enough that I can eat them.

If you want to try eliminating dairy, you should visit the Food

Allergy Network's website and check out the ingredients that are

considered dairy. There are so many more than people ever suspect.

Sam

> > >

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle cap or

> > sebbhoric

> > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering

because I've

> > > been reading about biotin deficiency...of which persistent

cradle

> > cap from

> > > infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old!) is

one of the

> > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some

references to

> > using

> > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with yeast.

> > Can't help

> > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...

> > >

> > > Bonnie

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Bonnie, I have only like 1 second before the kids scream for more

breakfast again, but wanted to mention that I " m going to try to make

coconut milk yogurt soon! I just recently read that there is one now

available at some Trader Joes and HFS call " So Delicious " or something

like that. (I think that company also makes a lot of soy dairy

alternatives - but this (from what I've read) is non-soy, coconut milk

based yogurt).

o.k. - more later but wanted to mention the coconut milk yogurt as an

option! (Plus you can make smoothies and " soft serve ice cream " and a

lot of other 'dairy' type things with coconut milk and it has a lot of

beneficial fats and goodies in it!)

best,

p.s. - can empathize on the lack of support from the family! mine

doesn't exactly give me a hard time (maybe because we don't live close

and don't spend much time in each other's homes...?) but they

certainly don't " get it " and even DH gives me a hard time with it

sometimes. Hang in there!

p.p.s. - I know how hard it can be at meals and the power struggles

(well, not sure with a 10yr old, but definitely have two

strong-willed, independent little ones in our house!). I just decided

to offer foods that are on my " safe " list, make them appear as kid

friendly as I could (e.g., palm tree made from baby carrots and

cucumber slivers.... we do a lot of " finger foods " with GF catsup, GF

mustard, homemade dressings, maple syrup, etc. - the boys actually eat

homemade balsamic vinaigrette as if it were maple syrup!). I didn't

respond to fussing, just calmly said that there was plenty of good

food available on the table and I didn't complain if all they ate was

chicken but no veggies, or just cucumbers and dressing, or ??

Sometimes one or both would just nibble and not each much. I would

just cover up their plates and let them go about their business. In

an hour or so, I would see the plate get uncovered and nibbling occur.

It's hard, your children are surely hungry and sad/frustrated that

they aren't getting something they think they'd rather eat, but I got

to the point where i just felt I had to be strong/unwaivering (in a

gentle, laid-back way) in the foods I offered. I got to the point

where I felt it was hazardous to their well-being to keep giving in on

their requests - that it would be akin to letting them do any other

risky activity that I would normally intervene on. Yes, DS#1 (almost

4yrs) might get frustrated that I won't let him walk across the top of

the monkey bars, but I also know if I let him do it - he *might* make

it o.k., but he is more likely to fall off and possibly get really

hurt. He might go kicking and screaming as I redirect him to a more

age-appropriate climbing structure, but he gets over it. Just like

the food, he might put up a big fuss, but it will pass.

o.k., so about that breakfast I was promising them........ I guess

sliced plums and peaches only gets them so far. . .

> > > >

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > >

> > > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle cap or

> > > sebbhoric

> > > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering

> because I've

> > > > been reading about biotin deficiency.. .of which persistent

> cradle

> > > cap from

> > > > infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old! ) is

> one of the

> > > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some

> references to

> > > using

> > > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with yeast.

> > > Can't help

> > > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...

> > > >

> > > > Bonnie

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, . I will look for coconut milk yogurt or maybe try making some when we get home...my sauerkraut project is waiting for me at home too (I bought a copy of Wild Fermentation right before we left--and for my pickle-loving 10-year-old, fermented vegetables may turn out to be a great probiotic solution).

Re: safe foods. Well, that's part of my problem--I have to compile a list of what I think are safe foods...and I'm honestly not sure what I think belongs on that list. And it's hard to be strict with the kids (and the relatives -- actually I can handle the kids better than I can the relatives!) when I'm not certain myself what's safe and what's not. I'm increasingly certain that dairy products do not belong on the list...unless, maybe, we're able to get raw dairy, which, at the moment, we're not...I'm not sure if soy belongs on the list. But am beginning to think soy may be more problematic even than gluten for us (but that's more intuition than evidence speaking). Foods high in fiber...not sure if those belong on the list. Suspect they don't. And even fruit juice, which I've tried to get into my four-year-old on the theory that it would be a good thing for her...I got her to have a fruit juice popsicle (100% juice, I think it was grape and pear) on vacation, and it left burns around the corners of her mouth. Which leaves me thinking...what is it doing inside her? Her skin can't handle it...so, can her digestive tract? And then there's gluten. Not sure if that belongs on the safe list either...

I'm also fairly sure that processed foods do not belong on the list of safe foods...but...realistically, I think I have to allow them sometimes simply because I'm only one person...so I'm trying to compromise with only processed foods that come from the HFS and have minimal ingredients...I know, there are ways around this, like batch cooking, freezing lots of things, etc.

And then there's sugar. Well, it's dairy- and gluten-free...but...it's sugar! On the other hand, it seems like many of the laxatives doctors suggest (Karo syrup, sorbitol, lactulose), are really sugar, or sugar substitutes, in some form. Is sugar unproblematic? I don't see how it can be since it depresses the immune system...and yet, does it have some kind of benefit for constipated kids, since doctors are prescribing it? Or are doctors as confused about sugar as they are about Miralax? The sugar issue is really important for school, unfortunately! Schools dole out sugar right and left (it seems like every child brings cupcakes for birthdays, and parents do not have advance notice of who has a birthday and when...plus, when the whole class learns something, like their multiplication tables, there is inevitably an ice cream party to celebrate). If we do a GF and CF diet, I can tell the school that and that would get rid of a certain class of sugary treats that they give out...but that still leaves stuff like candy (Halloween, Valentine's Day, and some teachers give out sweets to celebrate accomplishments in the classroom). The sugar issue is also a big one with our relatives (my mom, yesterday: " You need to understand that we ARE going to have a birthday party and there WILL be cake and PROBABLY ice cream. " ). Personally, I think that sugar is very problematic, even if it's part of a CF/GF treat...but I'm not sure where I would rank it in my list. Should it be totally prohibited? Or treated as a controlled substance that we have occasionally? Or should I allow it more regularly since I'm banning other things? I think what I'm going to do is ban it at home and then see what happens when they occasionally have it elsewhere.

And then there is (extremely important for vegetarians who are soy-ambivalent) the whole nut issue. And, as a subset of the nut issue, the peanut issue (organic or not? how bad is ordinary peanut butter, if it's all natural but not organic? etc).

I guess one approach would be to start with only eating foods that I am certain are safe (sort of like the SCD approach). But that would be a fairly short list! Or, alternatively, maybe what I need to do is start with that Enterolab testing...though that may have to wait until fall when my writing income goes up...

This is all such an organizational challenge. I feel like I really need to do what someone said their doctor suggested and set up an Excel spreadsheet or something to track everything we eat...along with every supplement we add...and all the tests that are on my list of things to try when I can afford to...

Sorry, this email has gotten really long. I'm not really looking for advice at this point, I'm more just thinking out loud...though advice is always, always welcome! On the bright side, I have been taking the biotin that I recently got and just in two days (or a little less than two days) have seen a big improvement in my rash...making me think the biotin might well be helpful for the girls too...

Bonnie

Bonnie, I have only like 1 second before the kids scream for more

breakfast again, but wanted to mention that I " m going to try to make

coconut milk yogurt soon! I just recently read that there is one now

available at some Trader Joes and HFS call " So Delicious " or something

like that. (I think that company also makes a lot of soy dairy

alternatives - but this (from what I've read) is non-soy, coconut milk

based yogurt).

o.k. - more later but wanted to mention the coconut milk yogurt as an

option! (Plus you can make smoothies and " soft serve ice cream " and a

lot of other 'dairy' type things with coconut milk and it has a lot of

beneficial fats and goodies in it!)

best,

p.s. - can empathize on the lack of support from the family! mine

doesn't exactly give me a hard time (maybe because we don't live close

and don't spend much time in each other's homes...?) but they

certainly don't " get it " and even DH gives me a hard time with it

sometimes. Hang in there!

p.p.s. - I know how hard it can be at meals and the power struggles

(well, not sure with a 10yr old, but definitely have two

strong-willed, independent little ones in our house!). I just decided

to offer foods that are on my " safe " list, make them appear as kid

friendly as I could (e.g., palm tree made from baby carrots and

cucumber slivers.... we do a lot of " finger foods " with GF catsup, GF

mustard, homemade dressings, maple syrup, etc. - the boys actually eat

homemade balsamic vinaigrette as if it were maple syrup!). I didn't

respond to fussing, just calmly said that there was plenty of good

food available on the table and I didn't complain if all they ate was

chicken but no veggies, or just cucumbers and dressing, or ??

Sometimes one or both would just nibble and not each much. I would

just cover up their plates and let them go about their business. In

an hour or so, I would see the plate get uncovered and nibbling occur.

It's hard, your children are surely hungry and sad/frustrated that

they aren't getting something they think they'd rather eat, but I got

to the point where i just felt I had to be strong/unwaivering (in a

gentle, laid-back way) in the foods I offered. I got to the point

where I felt it was hazardous to their well-being to keep giving in on

their requests - that it would be akin to letting them do any other

risky activity that I would normally intervene on. Yes, DS#1 (almost

4yrs) might get frustrated that I won't let him walk across the top of

the monkey bars, but I also know if I let him do it - he *might* make

it o.k., but he is more likely to fall off and possibly get really

hurt. He might go kicking and screaming as I redirect him to a more

age-appropriate climbing structure, but he gets over it. Just like

the food, he might put up a big fuss, but it will pass.

o.k., so about that breakfast I was promising them........ I guess

sliced plums and peaches only gets them so far. . .

> > > >

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > >

> > > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle cap or

> > > sebbhoric

> > > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering

> because I've

> > > > been reading about biotin deficiency.. .of which persistent

> cradle

> > > cap from

> > > > infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old! ) is

> one of the

> > > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some

> references to

> > > using

> > > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with yeast.

> > > Can't help

> > > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...

> > > >

> > > > Bonnie

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

bonnie - i know you said that biotin can help yeast - where have you gotten the biotin from? think they have it at whole foods? thanks so much. good luck! dana

Thanks, . I will look for coconut milk yogurt or maybe try making some when we get home...my sauerkraut project is waiting for me at home too (I bought a copy of Wild Fermentation right before we left--and for my pickle-loving 10-year-old, fermented vegetables may turn out to be a great probiotic solution).

Re: safe foods. Well, that's part of my problem--I have to compile a list of what I think are safe foods...and I'm honestly not sure what I think belongs on that list. And it's hard to be strict with the kids (and the relatives -- actually I can handle the kids better than I can the relatives!) when I'm not certain myself what's safe and what's not. I'm increasingly certain that dairy products do not belong on the list...unless, maybe, we're able to get raw dairy, which, at the moment, we're not...I'm not sure if soy belongs on the list. But am beginning to think soy may be more problematic even than gluten for us (but that's more intuition than evidence speaking). Foods high in fiber...not sure if those belong on the list. Suspect they don't. And even fruit juice, which I've tried to get into my four-year-old on the theory that it would be a good thing for her...I got her to have a fruit juice popsicle (100% juice, I think it was grape and pear) on vacation, and it left burns around the corners of her mouth. Which leaves me thinking...what is it doing inside her? Her skin can't handle it...so, can her digestive tract? And then there's gluten. Not sure if that belongs on the safe list either...

I'm also fairly sure that processed foods do not belong on the list of safe foods...but...realistically, I think I have to allow them sometimes simply because I'm only one person...so I'm trying to compromise with only processed foods that come from the HFS and have minimal ingredients...I know, there are ways around this, like batch cooking, freezing lots of things, etc.

And then there's sugar. Well, it's dairy- and gluten-free...but...it's sugar! On the other hand, it seems like many of the laxatives doctors suggest (Karo syrup, sorbitol, lactulose), are really sugar, or sugar substitutes, in some form. Is sugar unproblematic? I don't see how it can be since it depresses the immune system...and yet, does it have some kind of benefit for constipated kids, since doctors are prescribing it? Or are doctors as confused about sugar as they are about Miralax? The sugar issue is really important for school, unfortunately! Schools dole out sugar right and left (it seems like every child brings cupcakes for birthdays, and parents do not have advance notice of who has a birthday and when...plus, when the whole class learns something, like their multiplication tables, there is inevitably an ice cream party to celebrate). If we do a GF and CF diet, I can tell the school that and that would get rid of a certain class of sugary treats that they give out...but that still leaves stuff like candy (Halloween, Valentine's Day, and some teachers give out sweets to celebrate accomplishments in the classroom). The sugar issue is also a big one with our relatives (my mom, yesterday: " You need to understand that we ARE going to have a birthday party and there WILL be cake and PROBABLY ice cream. " ). Personally, I think that sugar is very problematic, even if it's part of a CF/GF treat...but I'm not sure where I would rank it in my list. Should it be totally prohibited? Or treated as a controlled substance that we have occasionally? Or should I allow it more regularly since I'm banning other things? I think what I'm going to do is ban it at home and then see what happens when they occasionally have it elsewhere.

And then there is (extremely important for vegetarians who are soy-ambivalent) the whole nut issue. And, as a subset of the nut issue, the peanut issue (organic or not? how bad is ordinary peanut butter, if it's all natural but not organic? etc).

I guess one approach would be to start with only eating foods that I am certain are safe (sort of like the SCD approach). But that would be a fairly short list! Or, alternatively, maybe what I need to do is start with that Enterolab testing...though that may have to wait until fall when my writing income goes up...

This is all such an organizational challenge. I feel like I really need to do what someone said their doctor suggested and set up an Excel spreadsheet or something to track everything we eat...along with every supplement we add...and all the tests that are on my list of things to try when I can afford to...

Sorry, this email has gotten really long. I'm not really looking for advice at this point, I'm more just thinking out loud...though advice is always, always welcome! On the bright side, I have been taking the biotin that I recently got and just in two days (or a little less than two days) have seen a big improvement in my rash...making me think the biotin might well be helpful for the girls too...

Bonnie

Bonnie, I have only like 1 second before the kids scream for morebreakfast again, but wanted to mention that I " m going to try to makecoconut milk yogurt soon! I just recently read that there is one now

available at some Trader Joes and HFS call " So Delicious " or somethinglike that. (I think that company also makes a lot of soy dairyalternatives - but this (from what I've read) is non-soy, coconut milk

based yogurt).o.k. - more later but wanted to mention the coconut milk yogurt as anoption! (Plus you can make smoothies and " soft serve ice cream " and alot of other 'dairy' type things with coconut milk and it has a lot of

beneficial fats and goodies in it!)best,p.s. - can empathize on the lack of support from the family! minedoesn't exactly give me a hard time (maybe because we don't live closeand don't spend much time in each other's homes...?) but they

certainly don't " get it " and even DH gives me a hard time with itsometimes. Hang in there!p.p.s. - I know how hard it can be at meals and the power struggles(well, not sure with a 10yr old, but definitely have two

strong-willed, independent little ones in our house!). I just decidedto offer foods that are on my " safe " list, make them appear as kidfriendly as I could (e.g., palm tree made from baby carrots andcucumber slivers.... we do a lot of " finger foods " with GF catsup, GF

mustard, homemade dressings, maple syrup, etc. - the boys actually eathomemade balsamic vinaigrette as if it were maple syrup!). I didn'trespond to fussing, just calmly said that there was plenty of goodfood available on the table and I didn't complain if all they ate was

chicken but no veggies, or just cucumbers and dressing, or ?? Sometimes one or both would just nibble and not each much. I wouldjust cover up their plates and let them go about their business. Inan hour or so, I would see the plate get uncovered and nibbling occur.

It's hard, your children are surely hungry and sad/frustrated thatthey aren't getting something they think they'd rather eat, but I gotto the point where i just felt I had to be strong/unwaivering (in a

gentle, laid-back way) in the foods I offered. I got to the pointwhere I felt it was hazardous to their well-being to keep giving in ontheir requests - that it would be akin to letting them do any otherrisky activity that I would normally intervene on. Yes, DS#1 (almost

4yrs) might get frustrated that I won't let him walk across the top ofthe monkey bars, but I also know if I let him do it - he *might* makeit o.k., but he is more likely to fall off and possibly get really

hurt. He might go kicking and screaming as I redirect him to a moreage-appropriate climbing structure, but he gets over it. Just likethe food, he might put up a big fuss, but it will pass.o.k., so about that breakfast I was promising them........ I guess

sliced plums and peaches only gets them so far. . .

> > > >> > > > Hi everyone,> > > >> > > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle cap or> > > sebbhoric> > > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering

> because I've> > > > been reading about biotin deficiency.. .of which persistent > cradle> > > cap from> > > > infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old! ) is

> one of the> > > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some > references to> > > using> > > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with yeast.

> > > Can't help> > > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...> > > >> > > > Bonnie> > > >> > >> > >

> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

I bought it at Natural Pantry in Anchorage, where we are on vacation...Whole Foods would probably have it too...Bonnie

bonnie - i know you said that biotin can help yeast - where have you gotten the biotin from? think they have it at whole foods? thanks so much. good luck! dana

Thanks, . I will look for coconut milk yogurt or maybe try making some when we get home...my sauerkraut project is waiting for me at home too (I bought a copy of Wild Fermentation right before we left--and for my pickle-loving 10-year-old, fermented vegetables may turn out to be a great probiotic solution).

Re: safe foods. Well, that's part of my problem--I have to compile a list of what I think are safe foods...and I'm honestly not sure what I think belongs on that list. And it's hard to be strict with the kids (and the relatives -- actually I can handle the kids better than I can the relatives!) when I'm not certain myself what's safe and what's not. I'm increasingly certain that dairy products do not belong on the list...unless, maybe, we're able to get raw dairy, which, at the moment, we're not...I'm not sure if soy belongs on the list. But am beginning to think soy may be more problematic even than gluten for us (but that's more intuition than evidence speaking). Foods high in fiber...not sure if those belong on the list. Suspect they don't. And even fruit juice, which I've tried to get into my four-year-old on the theory that it would be a good thing for her...I got her to have a fruit juice popsicle (100% juice, I think it was grape and pear) on vacation, and it left burns around the corners of her mouth. Which leaves me thinking...what is it doing inside her? Her skin can't handle it...so, can her digestive tract? And then there's gluten. Not sure if that belongs on the safe list either...

I'm also fairly sure that processed foods do not belong on the list of safe foods...but...realistically, I think I have to allow them sometimes simply because I'm only one person...so I'm trying to compromise with only processed foods that come from the HFS and have minimal ingredients...I know, there are ways around this, like batch cooking, freezing lots of things, etc.

And then there's sugar. Well, it's dairy- and gluten-free...but...it's sugar! On the other hand, it seems like many of the laxatives doctors suggest (Karo syrup, sorbitol, lactulose), are really sugar, or sugar substitutes, in some form. Is sugar unproblematic? I don't see how it can be since it depresses the immune system...and yet, does it have some kind of benefit for constipated kids, since doctors are prescribing it? Or are doctors as confused about sugar as they are about Miralax? The sugar issue is really important for school, unfortunately! Schools dole out sugar right and left (it seems like every child brings cupcakes for birthdays, and parents do not have advance notice of who has a birthday and when...plus, when the whole class learns something, like their multiplication tables, there is inevitably an ice cream party to celebrate). If we do a GF and CF diet, I can tell the school that and that would get rid of a certain class of sugary treats that they give out...but that still leaves stuff like candy (Halloween, Valentine's Day, and some teachers give out sweets to celebrate accomplishments in the classroom). The sugar issue is also a big one with our relatives (my mom, yesterday: " You need to understand that we ARE going to have a birthday party and there WILL be cake and PROBABLY ice cream. " ). Personally, I think that sugar is very problematic, even if it's part of a CF/GF treat...but I'm not sure where I would rank it in my list. Should it be totally prohibited? Or treated as a controlled substance that we have occasionally? Or should I allow it more regularly since I'm banning other things? I think what I'm going to do is ban it at home and then see what happens when they occasionally have it elsewhere.

And then there is (extremely important for vegetarians who are soy-ambivalent) the whole nut issue. And, as a subset of the nut issue, the peanut issue (organic or not? how bad is ordinary peanut butter, if it's all natural but not organic? etc).

I guess one approach would be to start with only eating foods that I am certain are safe (sort of like the SCD approach). But that would be a fairly short list! Or, alternatively, maybe what I need to do is start with that Enterolab testing...though that may have to wait until fall when my writing income goes up...

This is all such an organizational challenge. I feel like I really need to do what someone said their doctor suggested and set up an Excel spreadsheet or something to track everything we eat...along with every supplement we add...and all the tests that are on my list of things to try when I can afford to...

Sorry, this email has gotten really long. I'm not really looking for advice at this point, I'm more just thinking out loud...though advice is always, always welcome! On the bright side, I have been taking the biotin that I recently got and just in two days (or a little less than two days) have seen a big improvement in my rash...making me think the biotin might well be helpful for the girls too...

Bonnie

Bonnie, I have only like 1 second before the kids scream for morebreakfast again, but wanted to mention that I " m going to try to makecoconut milk yogurt soon! I just recently read that there is one now

available at some Trader Joes and HFS call " So Delicious " or somethinglike that. (I think that company also makes a lot of soy dairyalternatives - but this (from what I've read) is non-soy, coconut milk

based yogurt).o.k. - more later but wanted to mention the coconut milk yogurt as anoption! (Plus you can make smoothies and " soft serve ice cream " and alot of other 'dairy' type things with coconut milk and it has a lot of

beneficial fats and goodies in it!)best,p.s. - can empathize on the lack of support from the family! minedoesn't exactly give me a hard time (maybe because we don't live closeand don't spend much time in each other's homes...?) but they

certainly don't " get it " and even DH gives me a hard time with itsometimes. Hang in there!p.p.s. - I know how hard it can be at meals and the power struggles(well, not sure with a 10yr old, but definitely have two

strong-willed, independent little ones in our house!). I just decidedto offer foods that are on my " safe " list, make them appear as kidfriendly as I could (e.g., palm tree made from baby carrots and

cucumber slivers.... we do a lot of " finger foods " with GF catsup, GF

mustard, homemade dressings, maple syrup, etc. - the boys actually eathomemade balsamic vinaigrette as if it were maple syrup!). I didn'trespond to fussing, just calmly said that there was plenty of goodfood available on the table and I didn't complain if all they ate was

chicken but no veggies, or just cucumbers and dressing, or ?? Sometimes one or both would just nibble and not each much. I wouldjust cover up their plates and let them go about their business. Inan hour or so, I would see the plate get uncovered and nibbling occur.

It's hard, your children are surely hungry and sad/frustrated thatthey aren't getting something they think they'd rather eat, but I gotto the point where i just felt I had to be strong/unwaivering (in a

gentle, laid-back way) in the foods I offered. I got to the pointwhere I felt it was hazardous to their well-being to keep giving in ontheir requests - that it would be akin to letting them do any otherrisky activity that I would normally intervene on. Yes, DS#1 (almost

4yrs) might get frustrated that I won't let him walk across the top ofthe monkey bars, but I also know if I let him do it - he *might* makeit o.k., but he is more likely to fall off and possibly get really

hurt. He might go kicking and screaming as I redirect him to a moreage-appropriate climbing structure, but he gets over it. Just likethe food, he might put up a big fuss, but it will pass.o.k., so about that breakfast I was promising them........ I guess

sliced plums and peaches only gets them so far. . .

> > > >> > > > Hi everyone,> > > >> > > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle cap or> > > sebbhoric> > > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering

> because I've> > > > been reading about biotin deficiency.. .of which persistent > cradle> > > cap from> > > > infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old! ) is

> one of the> > > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some > references to> > > using> > > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with yeast.

> > > Can't help> > > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...> > > >> > > > Bonnie> > > >> > >> > >

> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

hi Bonnie!

Hang in there! Sending virtual hugs your way - sounds like you need some!!

Also - TRUST your instincts!!!!! That's one thing I have found in

this process. YEs, the scientist in me likes getting the 'data' from

the testing (esp. Enterolab's tests - genetic and stool IgA's) - but

in the end, much of what seems to be helping us food-wise has been

what I suspected for a while but just wanted to *not* believe it. I

will say that I NEVER suspected gluten for DS#1, but oddly enough when

DS#2 was born, and the midwife told me that I should eat something - a

little snack, I asked for crackers (the " wheat thin " -like ones) and

immediately felt that I shouldn't be eating them. I told myself it

was not the crackers I was feeling badly about, it was the cheese my

DH brought out with them (dairy seemed to be the biggest culprit for

DS#1's colic/icky stools).

Anyway - several times during DS#2's first 6 months or so, I would

have these suspicions that wheat/gluten was a problem - just didn't

want to believe it!

Also DS#1's serum IgG and stool IgA tests were both negative for an

immune response to egg, yet I guarantee that if he ate egg tomorrow,

he'd get really backed up and end up having a lot of pain. Should've

stuck with my instincts on that one!! I still hope to recover from

the egg issue - maybe after chelation (some day) and after some period

of time into GF/CF.

Recently, I kept telling myself that we surely cannot have a problem

with corn. That surely it's just gluten, dairy and egg that are our

main problems. Gave in more and more on the corn tortillas, homemade

popcorn, and even corn chips - DS#1 has needed more 'intervention' to

keep from getting backed up (more magnesium, some KidLax, and

ultimately had to add in senna) and DS#2 was back to waking up 2 or 3

times at night. Just this past week I listened to my instincts again,

took corn back out and really see a difference in DS#1's stooling and

DS#2 is back to sleeping!!

I'm truly not trying to push a gluten-agenda - just trying to

encourage you to go with your instincts! You're a very intuitive

person and 'in-tune' mother.

OH! Wild Fermentation - do you like it? I am planning to order it as

well - I've read so much about it and am quite interested in branching

out in my fermenting endeavors!

Finally - do what you can, when you can! We still rely on some

processed foods, too. Though I aspire to do more NT-style cooking

(but GF/CF/EF/CornF/and mostly SF) - like soaking the grains/flours,

fermenting foods, etc. - it is a slow process for me - even just

getting to a mental place that I am up for trying a recipe, then

scheming how to fit the various steps into my schedule. Slowly, I'm

adding a few things in - like the sauerkraut, soaking legumes, etc.

Try to enjoy the rest of your time with your family! =)....

best,

p.s. - I think the sugars, like lactulose and sucralose, that have

laxative properties are not digested or broken down in our bodies in

the same way that table sugar is...? I think that is why they exert

an osmotic effect - they stay as a more complete sugar molecule and

therefore the concentration of the undigested sugar is higher in the

intestines than out and water is therefore drawn in.....

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle

cap or

> > > > > sebbhoric

> > > > > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering

> > > because I've

> > > > > > been reading about biotin deficiency.. .of which persistent

> > > cradle

> > > > > cap from

> > > > > > infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old! ) is

> > > one of the

> > > > > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some

> > > references to

> > > > > using

> > > > > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with

yeast.

> > > > > Can't help

> > > > > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Bonnie

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, . I needed that virtual hug! Dealing with all of this plus my family is just a little much for me...though I did put my foot down about the birthday party (it's a party they wanted to throw for my four-year-old while we're visiting) and told them there would be no ice cream.

I think the advice to trust my instincts is right...though, my instinct is saying that we shouldn't be eating things like dairy and gluten, not because of any allergy, but simply because they're so darn hard to digest, for anyone. Unfortunately then it's tempting to allow them occasionally (since I suspect we're not technically allergic to them), but if anyone we know sees us eating them occasionally, they assume those things are fine for all the time...and that leads to fights when I object to those foods being offered to my children...but also occasionally leads to some humorous moments...the ice cream issue led to a discussion of cheese at breakfast this morning, and I explained why I prefer that the kids not eat cheese. My mom was going on about how my dad shouldn't eat cheese because of his cholesterol levels, and I, somewhat unthinkingly, put in, " ly, Dad, if you eat cheese I'm sure it'll make you just as constipated as [his granddaughter]. " (He has diverticulitis.) Well, none of them could believe that I had actually used the word " constipated " at breakfast! And I guess on one level they're right -- my DD is turning five and it's probably time I stopped discussing her health so openly -- she's going to start getting embarrassed. I certainly managed to embarrass the adults at the table...

Ah well, we'll be home soon and then we'll turn over a new dietary leaf...Bonnie

hi Bonnie!

Hang in there! Sending virtual hugs your way - sounds like you need some!!

Also - TRUST your instincts!!!!! That's one thing I have found in

this process. YEs, the scientist in me likes getting the 'data' from

the testing (esp. Enterolab's tests - genetic and stool IgA's) - but

in the end, much of what seems to be helping us food-wise has been

what I suspected for a while but just wanted to *not* believe it. I

will say that I NEVER suspected gluten for DS#1, but oddly enough when

DS#2 was born, and the midwife told me that I should eat something - a

little snack, I asked for crackers (the " wheat thin " -like ones) and

immediately felt that I shouldn't be eating them. I told myself it

was not the crackers I was feeling badly about, it was the cheese my

DH brought out with them (dairy seemed to be the biggest culprit for

DS#1's colic/icky stools).

Anyway - several times during DS#2's first 6 months or so, I would

have these suspicions that wheat/gluten was a problem - just didn't

want to believe it!

Also DS#1's serum IgG and stool IgA tests were both negative for an

immune response to egg, yet I guarantee that if he ate egg tomorrow,

he'd get really backed up and end up having a lot of pain. Should've

stuck with my instincts on that one!! I still hope to recover from

the egg issue - maybe after chelation (some day) and after some period

of time into GF/CF.

Recently, I kept telling myself that we surely cannot have a problem

with corn. That surely it's just gluten, dairy and egg that are our

main problems. Gave in more and more on the corn tortillas, homemade

popcorn, and even corn chips - DS#1 has needed more 'intervention' to

keep from getting backed up (more magnesium, some KidLax, and

ultimately had to add in senna) and DS#2 was back to waking up 2 or 3

times at night. Just this past week I listened to my instincts again,

took corn back out and really see a difference in DS#1's stooling and

DS#2 is back to sleeping!!

I'm truly not trying to push a gluten-agenda - just trying to

encourage you to go with your instincts! You're a very intuitive

person and 'in-tune' mother.

OH! Wild Fermentation - do you like it? I am planning to order it as

well - I've read so much about it and am quite interested in branching

out in my fermenting endeavors!

Finally - do what you can, when you can! We still rely on some

processed foods, too. Though I aspire to do more NT-style cooking

(but GF/CF/EF/CornF/and mostly SF) - like soaking the grains/flours,

fermenting foods, etc. - it is a slow process for me - even just

getting to a mental place that I am up for trying a recipe, then

scheming how to fit the various steps into my schedule. Slowly, I'm

adding a few things in - like the sauerkraut, soaking legumes, etc.

Try to enjoy the rest of your time with your family! =)....

best,

p.s. - I think the sugars, like lactulose and sucralose, that have

laxative properties are not digested or broken down in our bodies in

the same way that table sugar is...? I think that is why they exert

an osmotic effect - they stay as a more complete sugar molecule and

therefore the concentration of the undigested sugar is higher in the

intestines than out and water is therefore drawn in.....

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Just curious. Do any of your kids have persistent cradle

cap or

> > > > > sebbhoric

> > > > > > (I'm sure I misspelled that) dermatitis? I'm just wondering

> > > because I've

> > > > > > been reading about biotin deficiency.. .of which persistent

> > > cradle

> > > > > cap from

> > > > > > infancy on (which my kids both have, even my 10-year-old! ) is

> > > one of the

> > > > > > main symptoms. As I was reading about it I found some

> > > references to

> > > > > using

> > > > > > biotin supplementation to help with constipation and with

yeast.

> > > > > Can't help

> > > > > > but wonder if this is another piece of the puzzle for us...

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Bonnie

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>